Paul Pierce’s gets to the elbows and once there unleashes an old-man-at-the-YMCA game on his opponents, getting off an array of crafty shots that seem to always find the bottom of the net. He’s evolved that part of his game over the years. That game has started to slip (he turns 37 this October) but he still is an above average player and a guy who can make contested shots. The kind you have to hit in the playoffs. Which is why the Wizards picked him up.

Kobe Bryant knows he’s not going to be the same kind of player now that he was pre-injury and a few years back. He has evolved his game as he has aged and that process takes on new meaning now coming back from Achilles and knee surgeries.

In preparing for this season, Bryant told friends that the player he is analyzing, as an example of adjusting your game as you get older, is fellow 36-year-old Paul Pierce. This is part of his goal to become “more efficient” on the court.

Said Bryant, “I’m going to max [my last two years] out too, to do whatever I can. Leave no stone unturned, no water left in the sponge.”

There will be a lot of eyes on Kobe this season, which is why he and the Lakers are playing on opening night (that and television ratings). We all want to see just what Kobe still has in the tank, what he can do this season.

My guess is he is still going to be a good player. Maybe not the guy he was three years ago, but still a guy you have to game plan for, a guy who can make plays, and a guy who will lead this team.

His problem is there is nobody else to really fear on that roster and this Kobe (in this deep Western Conference) can’t lift this team as high as he believes he can.

In the last month there’s been 400 Cavaliers articles, 250 Kobe articles, and 1 Spurs article. I mean does the NBA champion seriously not rate on this site?

But seriously why do we need this many Kobe articles? Oh and allow me to pre-respond for all you rubes, “Well you clicked on it and you commented on it.” Ah yes, you know everything. Consider me proven wrong.

Wait a minute: you find the ball whizzing all over the court boring? Pre-2007, you probably had a case, when the offense was “dump it in to Duncan”, but if you find that boring, perhaps you should watch another sport.

The spurs dont play a “boring” style, but in my opinion theyre just exremely boring, like id rather watch a Magic game than a Spurs any day. It is a matter of personal tatse, and most people are bored by the Spurs, whether they should or not isnt the issue.

mackcarrington - Aug 28, 2014 at 11:45 AM

How many stories do you expect to get on Kawhi Leonard when he doesn’t speak?

What would they write about the Spurs? They return the same team, they don’t talk to the media… there isn’t much to write about… they’re going to be the best team in the NBA again… that’s really all you can write about, but everyone already knows that.

the spurs are old and done….. they had a nice 3 game run at the end of the season but their time in the spotlight are done

no way they win the west again and let’s face it, after the cavs play enough games to get on the same page, no one except the thunder (with a healthy westbrook) will be able to compete on the same level

you can cry and whine all you want but the GOAT will be in his 5th consecutive finals match….book it

you’re trolling is too obvious; if you want people to bite, make it more subtle, dont try too hard

mytthor - Aug 29, 2014 at 1:23 PM

It’s called news. It’s not just a profile of who’s important in the league. You want 50 spurs articles saying “nothing new has happened, but the Spurs are still a great organization who won the title?”

I actually DGAF if they’re not in the news in the offseason. That means all is well. I liked Simmons take: there were 29 teams waiting with bated breath to see what LeBron would do, and then there were the Spurs. : )

With High School kids not being allowed to enter the draft right away for starters. Secondly it takes a lot of dedication, focus and drive to want to be this good all the time. Lastly its one thing for a big man with skills to hang around for a long time, but for a wing player to do it and remain at a high level its actually a bit harder considering the natural decline in speed and reflexes.

It’s really not the same thing is it? Pierce has pretty much played that old man game his entire career. And to say he’s looking at a dude 1 year older to see how to gracefully age his game is pompous nonsense.

1. If the best they get out of Kobe is a current-day version of Paul Pierce, they should use the stretch on him next year.
2. Pierce was never a high-fly act, he’s only become more earthbound as the years have gone on.
3. Dirk and Duncan may not be guards, but they’ve cut weight and their workload. Salaries, notwithstanding, Kobe gunning away for all-time scoring marks is no way for he or his team to go out.

Kobe has been cutting weight for over 7 years… Dirk and Duncan have been cutting workloads because they can defer to guys like Monta Ellis, Chandler Parsons, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, etc… who do you suggest Kobe defer to to cut his workload? Nick Young? We’ll see how Julius Randle does but it’s not like the Lakers are boasting a roster like the Mavs or Spurs.

thing is, the Lakers won’t contend next season either, so get rid of ALL the money on Kobe’s contract next season rather than spread over $8 million out over 3 seasons…

i mean if they were $8 million away from contending (getting the final piece for that amount), then do it…

Either pay $25 million next season and be done or

pay $8.3 million in 15/16 season

pay $8.3 million in 16/17 season

pay $8.3 million in 17/18 season

A team that is winning but has no cap room should use the stretch.

the Lakers chose NOT to stretch Nash this season and that was the right call because the Lakers won’t contend this year so they should get all $9.7 on his deal out this season.

the Lakers won’t contend next season so they should start fresh with lots of money in the summer of 16

stayhigh_247 - Aug 28, 2014 at 12:33 PM

My fear is if the team starts to falter, he will revert to his old ways and try to do too much. If he can defer then it can work. In the half court they should be ok with Boozer and Kobe’s old man prowess, and Swaggy P, J Linn and Randle on the break, Scott has to manage Kobes minutes and fans need to be realistic, this team probably wouldn’t win much in the east either.

Think its top 3 protected. Might be our lucky year. Gilbert can’t get first pick from the top of the east!… Can he?

mazblast - Aug 28, 2014 at 2:36 PM

” He has evolved his game as he has aged”

In what way? He still plays 1-on-5, throws up bricks, and whines to the refs when he doesn’t get free throws every time someone comes within six feet of him. The only evolution I’ve seen is that he’s turned invisible on the defensive end.

Every one keeps talking about Pierce and his old man game, Pierce plays the same way now as he did as a young player. It’s called being consistent. Watching Kobe play in recent years you seen the change taking place. He pulled up for more mid range jumpers, and took it to the rim accordingly.